Alastair Cook continued remorselessly, albeit with one significant piece of good fortune, as England piled on the agony for India on the third morning of the third Test at Eden Gardens.

The tourists were approaching credit already, after a wicketless session, as Cook (167no) and Jonathan Trott (66no) took the total to 296 for one in reply to 316 all out.

As so often on Thursday, India did not help themselves in the field.

Cook, dropped on only 17 at slip, was badly missed again when Ishant Sharma failed to hold a return catch pushed back at a perfect height off the back foot.

The England captain was already on 156, but it was another lost opportunity the hosts just could not afford.

They had already seen Cook and Trott press home England's advantage in the first hour - and although they managed to apply the brakes in the second, they could not manage a breakthrough.

Cook went past 500 runs for the series when he reached 143 here, and Trott completed a 131-ball half-century - his first of the tour - and brought up the hundred stand, with the same shot, a leg-glance for his seventh four as Zaheer Khan lost his line.

The total progressed in staccato, but England still had time on their side to play a waiting game.

Spin replaced pace, but to no avail as Cook and Trott set their sights on a first-innings lead which will ensure England can control the remainder of the match in pursuit of victory to take themselves 2-1 up with one to play.